1. Perfection is a myth and the world runs on flaws
2. Our job is not to be perfect but knowing that understanding imperfection is a worthy goal
3. Our greatest value comes in our knowledge of flaws

I've tested professionally for 6 years, and unofficially for most of my life. I am currently a tester, test coach and agile coach working with a variety of clients from the more conservative, rigid type to the flamboyantly startup types. I believe that this variety gives a good balance and insight into different forms and effectivenesses of testing methodologies. Besides, what fun is it to only experience one small slice of life?

Testing is dangerous. No, I don’t mean it’s hazard-pay dangerous or wear-your-helmet dangerous, but it is drive-you-crazy dangerous. We work in an industry that is constantly, deliberately, and effectively driving us nuts.
Why? Because testers have slipped into the obsessive role of Perfectionists. Whether due to our own ambition, organizational pressure or expectations from colleagues, Testing has become less about exploring quality and more about ensuring no flaws or defects get through. Failure to do this results in less than ideal consequences for us, again both by our organization and by ourselves.
What I want to do is walk through what we do, why we do it and why we keep stumbling along the path and into dangerous territory. Join me in looking at the world as it is, not as how we’ve been indoctrinated into thinking it should be. Let’s review the difference between quality and expectations, dismiss the myth of perfection and open our eyes to the real world, full of wonderfully inept and sub-par quality items we either completely ignore or love deeply.